Convertible article of furniture.



Patented Dec. I6, I902.

W. M. BDAZMAN.

CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE.

(Application filed May 9, 1902.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOH Wieam 263007277602).

A 7'7'0HNE rs.

WITNESSES:

y /fi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- WASHINGTON MANARD BOAZMAN, OF GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,953, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed May 9, 1902. Serial No. 106,510. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WASHINGTON MANARD BOAZMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Greenville, in the county of Greenville and State of South Carolina,-have invented an Improved Convertible Article of Furniture, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention is an improved article of convertible furniture which may serve as a' stationary bed or lounge, also as a rocking lounge, cradle, or chair, a rolling chair, or reclining-chair. The change or adjustment of parts required to adapt it for any one of these articles is efiected by a simple manipulation of parts.

The details of construction, arrangement, and operation of parts are as hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, (two sheets,) in which- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of my invention, showing it'adjusted as a rolling lounge or chair. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view.

For convenience of description I will hereinafter designate the article as a lounge.

The main or horizontal frame 1 of the lounge is oblong and rectangular, and consists of two side bars and three transverse connectingbars. The saidframe is provided with longitudinal rockers 2, which are attached to short legs 3, pendent from the frame 1, and thus rigidly connected therewith. The frame is provided with a headboard 4 and lower footboard 5. Transverse slats 6 serve as the top or bed surface of the lounge.

means of a pawl 8, which engages a ratchet:

bar 9, that is secured to the under side of two transverse bars. Beneath the middle transverse bar is journaled a transverse crankshaft 10, which is provided on the outer side of the frame 1 with arms 11, having knobbed ends. When the adjustable frame 7 is in its The frame 1 is provided with a hinged section 7, which lowest position, the crank-shaft 10 and pawl 8 lie also in an inclined position; but when the said frame is elevated the pawl 8 rides over the ratchet 9 and engages one of the notches therein. If it be desired to lower the frame 7, the operator raises one of the crankarms 11, and thereby brings the central bent portion or crank of the shaft 10 into engagement with the pawl 8, and thereby lifts the same out of engagement with the ratchet, whereupon the'frame 7 descends by gravity to its normal position.

It is a feature of myinvention that the arms 11 of the crank-shaft 10 are in such position alongside the frame 1 that they may be conveniently seized and manipulated by the occupant of the lounge.

The head of the frame 7 is provided with a cross-rod 12, having a knob, the same serving for convenient handholds for the occupant of the lounge or for a patient for the purpose of raising and lowering the frame, as will be readily understood.

When it is desired to support the lounge or hold it fixed in horizontal position, the arms 13 of crank-shafts 14 are turned downward and rest upon the floor. The side shafts 14 are j ournaledin screw-eyes and extend across beneath the frame 1 at points near the head and 'foot of the same. When turned down, the knobbed ends of the arms 13 hold their place on the floor by friction; but when drawn up, as'shown by full lines, Fig. 1, the arms are thrown over to an inclined position and rest in contact with studs or pins 15, that project laterally from the side bars of the frame 1. They are thus supported in the position that adapts them to be conveniently thrown over to the vertical or pendent position, as required. When the crank-arms 13 are in the raised position, it is obvious that the lounge may be used as a cradle or rocking-chair, as occasion requires.

In order to adapt the lounge to be conveniently and easily moved from one point to another or, in other words, to serve as a rolling chair or lounge, I provide it with aroller attachment Whose construction and arrangement is as follows: A supplemental frame 16 is pivoted or hinged to the main frame 1 at the same point as the hinged frame 7 and provided at its lower end with rollers 17. The said frame is held normally in an inclined position by means of a spiral spring 18, in which case the rollers 17 are above the lower edge of the rockers 2, and hence out of contact with the floor; but when the frame 16 is thrown down to the vertical position the rollers 17 project below the rockers and rest upon the floor, the rockers being in such case held above the floor at such distance as permits the rollers to serve for transportation.

For the purpose of overcoming the tension of the spring 18 and throwing the roller-frame 16 into the vertical position shown in Fig. l I employ a lever 19 and a rod 20, which connects it with the frame 16. The said lever is pivoted at one end upon one of the rockers 2, and its free end projects across the other rocker and is formed with a horizontal portion which adapts it to be conveniently seized and manipulated. By drawing the lever back to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2 the frame 16 is brought to vertical position, Fig.

2, and is held locked there by engagement of the said lever with a catch 2l,attached to that rocker which is nearest the free end of the lever. Upon release of the lever from the catch 21 a strong spring 18 instantly brings the roller-frame 16 back to the normal inclined position shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. The improved combination-lounge comprising a rigid frame, rockers attached thereto, a swinging frame pivoted to the main frame and having rollers at its free end, and a lever pivoted to one of the rockers, arod connecting said lever with the swinging frame, and a catch for engagement with the lever, substantially as shown and described.

2. The herein-described convertible article of furniture, comprising the oblong main frame having longitudinal rockers, the frame 7 hinged to the main frame and adapted to fold down therein, means for holding said frame at any desired angle, a supplemental frame pivoted at one end to the main frame at the same point as the frame 7 and provided at its other end with rollers, a spring 18 operating upon the supplemental frame, a transverse lever pivoted to the rockers, connections between said lever and the supplemental frame, whereby it may operate the latter, and a catch for engagement by the said lever, substantially as set forth.

WASHINGTON M ANARD BOAZMAN.

Witnesses:

J OHN J. CoWoRT, W. C. BEACHAM. 

